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Driver Training Solutions

Fire truck driving simulator for firefighters

There were 19,225 fire emergency vehicle crashes in 2023, resulting in 1,450 injuries. Firefighting is inherently dangerous, but preventable vehicle-related injuries shouldn’t add to that risk. Learn how a fire truck driving simulator can replicate the scale and center of gravity of emergency vehicles, and keep firefighters safe.

FireSim
An instructor guides a driver in a fire simulator

Key challenges and solutions for fire truck driving

Challenge: Unprepared for roadway drift

A common cause for fire truck crashes is drifting off the side of the road and either colliding with another vehicle or rolling over. Fire trucks are large, heavy and prone to drifting on wet roads or tight turns - situations too dangerous to practice in real life.

Solution: Build recovery skills

A fire truck driving simulator lets firefighters experience and correct vehicle drift safely, creating muscle memory that reduces overcorrection.


Challenge: Intersection response

Intersections are among the most dangerous places for firefighters due to heavy traffic flow, high speeds and unpredictable traffic. This makes real-world practice nearly impossible. Collisions can also occur if the fire truck swings too wide and crashes into another vehicle.

Solution: Increase defensive driving training

Using a simulator, a training space is provided for firefighters to improve their defensive driving skills. Complex intersection scenarios with adjustable traffic and emergency conditions help drivers sharpen judgment, timing and spatial awareness without risk.

Challenge: Limited familiarity with different vehicle types

Firefighters often operate multiple apparatuses with varying sizes and centers of gravity, but hands-on training time is limited for each. This puts the drivers at a greater, unnecessary risk.

Solution: Standardize training across all vehicles

Investing in a fire truck driving simulator that replicates diverse emergency vehicles involved in emergency operations can increase safety. Our fire truck simulator uses dynamic force feedback, allowing drivers to learn handling differences across the entire fleet.


Learn more about driving simulators for fire trucks. Contact our representatives for a consultation.

Why choose Driver Training Solutions for fire truck driving training?

Real feel without the real danger

Our simulators use a force feedback system in the steering column to mimic the center of gravity of large fire engines. When users turn, they feel and have to compensate for the same pulling force as a real vehicle.

Realistic road experiences

No trip to a fireground is the same for drivers. They face different weather, traffic conditions and even road surfaces. FireSim™ offers scenarios covering all those experiences, and the difficulty settings are adjustable for each driver.

Easy-to-implement training programs

The Instructor Operator Station (IOS) ensures consistent training by assisting with creating and implementing programs. It also has grading features to ensure that training is consistent and that drivers address their performance gaps.

FireSim™

Create a safe space for firefighters to train and enhance their driving skills while building muscle memory. Our simulator replicates numerous emergency vehicles and scenarios to train well-experienced drivers.

Curriculum includes: Decision driving, defensive driving, distracted driving, close quarters maneuvering, lane changes, negotiating intersections, rollover prevention, fuel management, winter driving, night and fog driving, fatigue management, emergency maneuvers and pre-trip inspections.

The Driver Training Solutions FireSim

Frequently asked questions

Yes, our simulators allow customization specific to your city’s roadways and various environments.
Yes. Our simulators have an advanced force feedback system that recreates the same center of gravity, pull and sway as real fire vehicles.
Using a driving simulator for fire trucks can help keep firefighters safe by reducing the odds of a crash. By training in a wide range of replicated fleet vehicles and real-world scenarios, drivers can react to real road dangers in a calm and calculated way.
Yes. The Instructor Operator Station (IOS) allows training officers to design exercises, track driver data and grade results in real time. This provides measurable insights into performance gaps and progress for each firefighter.
Using a simulator can help reduce wear, fuel consumption and vehicle damage during training for new drivers. It can also help decrease crashes and the damage associated with real-world driving.

Address driving performance gaps so firefighters are more confident responding to calls. Reach out to learn more about FireSim™.

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